Cage support



Jan.14, 1941. 2' EWUTTLE 2,228,703

CAGE SUPPORT Filed May 1, 194,0

INVENTOR Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to cage supporting means particularly designed for use in connection with bird cages and the like and one feature of the invention is the provision of a hanger that may 5 be quickly and easily attached to or disengaged from the cage.

A further feature of the invention is in so constructing the invention that it may be used in connection with a plate or be secured directly to the cage top, as may be desired.

A further feature of the invention is in so constructing the supporting means that it may be applied to use by merely applying downward pressure at the top portion of the support.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a swing support in connection with the cover plate from which a conventional form of swing may be suspended.

Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing which is made a part of this application:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view through the upper portion of a cage structure showing the supporting member attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the supporting member associated with a cover plate.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the supporting member and cover plate assembled.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cover plate, and,

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I designated the wires forming the top portion of a 35 conventional bird cage and 2 indicates a. circular collar or ring to which the ends of the wires I are attached, hook terminals 3 being provided at the free ends of the wires I which are engaged with and soldered or otherwise secured to th 40 ring or collar 2.

Adapted to cooperate with the opening 5 formed by the collar 2 and hook terminals 3 is a supporting member 6, comprising a piece of material bent to substantially U-shape, so that the arms 1 thereof will have resiliency and the lower free ends thereof be movable towards or from each other so that the sockets 8 at the lower ends of said arms will have snap engagement with the walls of the opening 5.

The free ends of the arms I are provided with beveled terminals 9 so that when the free ends of the terminals 9 are registered with the opening 5 and downward pressure directed against the upper portion of the support, the bevel of the 55 terminals9 will cause the arms 'I to contract until the socket portions 8 will register with the ring or collar 2,whereupon the spring tension of said arms I will cause said sockets to snap into engagement with the wall of the opening 5.

This will securely lock the support in engagement with the cage top so that the cage may be suspended from a suitable supporting stand or hook without the sockets being released from the wall of the opening 5 and at the same time permit rotating movement of the cage proper independently of the supporting member 6.

When the supporting member 5 is to be released from the opening 5, inward pressure is applied to the arms I until the sockets are free of the wall of the opening 5, when the supporting member may be lifted from off the cage.

If desired, a plate I I! may be provided for fitting over the opening 5, to prevent any possibility of the bird escaping through said opening, said plate beingprovided with openings II through which the socket portions 8 are passed and said openings I I are so arranged that when the sockets are in engagement with the wall of the opening 5, the curved portions of the arms I will impinge or extend over the outer extremities of said openings I I and firmly look the plate III in position over the opening 5. The openings II also serve as venti-' lators for the extreme top portion of the cage.

If desired, a hanger arm I2 may be formed in any suitable manner on the under face of the plate I0 for suspending the conventional or any suitable form of swing (not shown).

The openings II are of a size lengthwise equal to the length of the sockets 8 so that said sockets will readily pass through said openings when being in retracted position. I

What I claim is: I

1. The combination with a cage having an opening in the crown portion thereof,-of means for suspending said cage comprising a supporting member having sockets for frictional engagement with the walls of said opening in said cage, a cap for covering said opening having openings through which pass the socket portions of said supporting member, the inner walls of said socket members passing above and below said cap at the outer extremities of said cap openings and the interposed portions of the cage top for locking said cap in engagement with said cage top.

2. The combination with a supporting member for a cage structure, of a plate having openings therethrough through which pass parts of said supporting member, said supporting member parts having movement longitudinally of said openings, said plate being held in position by said supporting member, and a swing supporting arm on said plate.

3. The combination with a supporting member for a cage structure, of a plate having openings through which pass parts of said supporting member, said openings permitting movement of said supporting member parts therein whereby said parts may be moved toward each other to permit said parts to be entered through or removed from said openings and move outwardly by expansion for engagement with the outer edges of said openings, said plate being held in position by said supporting member.

4. A supporting member for a cage, substantially horizontally disposed sockets carried by said supporting member, said sockets being designed to frictionally engage parts of said cage top when in extended position, a plate having openings for the passage of said sockets, the parts of said supporting member carrying said sockets having lateral movement in said openings for positioning said sockets for removal from said openings and for permitting expansion of said socket carrying parts for interlocking with parts of said cage, said supporting member holding said plate in position on said cage.

5. The combination with a cage having an opening in the crown portion thereof, of means for suspending said cage comprising an expansible and contractible supporting member the free ends of which have substantially U-shaped sockets the closed ends of which are adapted to frictionally engage the walls of said opening in the cage when the parts of the suspending means are expanded, and a plate adapted to cover said opening with its peripheral edge extending beyond the edge of the opening in said cage, whereby portions of said plate will be resting within said sockets when the sockets engage the walls of said cage opening, said plate having orifices of a size to permit said sockets to be contracted to lessen the space between said sockets and permit the sockets to be lifted outwardly or extended through said orifices while contracted.

EARL W. LITTLE. 

